Secrets to Life from a Little Black Book

“Pack up your things and leave immediately! You will be lucky to ever get another job in marketing ever again. I will personally make sure of that!” Danny’s words were laced with venom. Blythe had worked for her manager for a year now; a man she no longer recognized. The hate bleeding from his eyes and the poison lashing her was nothing she experienced before.

“Can you please tell me what happened? What did I do wrong?” her voice sounded hollow and distant even to her.

He screamed, “I can’t believe you would sell us out to our main competitor! I had high hopes for you Blythe. I never expected you to be a traitor. You are just nothing but trash under my shoe.”

Blythe stammered completely shell shocked, “but I never did anything like that Danny. You have to believe me!”

“Get out!”

Blythe turned around totally disconnected from her own existence. She crept to her office not making eye contact with anyone but feeling the penetrating stares as she grabbed her jacket and briefcase and left everything else behind. She wanted nothing as a reminder of that tortured day.

Clouds blanketed the city like a thick layer of gray smoke. Mist was falling as Blythe aimlessly walked down the crowded sidewalk. She had no idea where she was going or who even passed her by. She couldn’t believe she had been betrayed so terribly. She didn’t care where she was walking to; she had nowhere to be anymore.

Suddenly something reflective caught Blythe’s eye. She looked around but only bushes lined the sidewalk by Redemption Park. With an indescribable determination, Blythe started actively searching as if her life depended on finding it. After crawling around and getting dirty, she knew she had found what she was looking for. It was an unassuming little black book with a brass looking button that was securing the book from opening. She slowly picked it up, dusted off the debris that had disguised the cover. She carefully opened it up to find a message in the inside.

Today is the start of a whole new life for you. It is by no accident that you were led to find this book. Follow the directions on the next few pages and you will forever be changed.

She stood there with her hands trembling as she let the words soak through every part of her body.

She carefully turned the page as to not damage her chances of making her life change. Lord knows she needed a new direction after the events of this morning. The next page had an address. All it said was 576 Pine Tree Lane. Blythe had no idea where or what this was. She hailed a cab immediately and headed home to decide if she would follow the instructions.

The next morning, she rose before the sun even came up. She looked and felt like she hadn’t slept a wink. The book and the address flashed in front of her eyes every time she closed them. Her life was in shambles and all she could fixate on was an address of a place she knew nothing about. Instead of resisting another minute, she showered, threw on some clothes, and ran out the door.

Blythe hailed a cab, “576 Pine Street,” she hastily stated.

The cabby with bulging muscles, a tight white t-shirt, and a military tattoo peeking out from the edge of his sleeve rasped, “You bet ma’am. Do you know someone there?”

“No, I don’t. Do you?”

“Yes ma’am. My buddy Joe is there. He is there because he was wounded over in Afghanistan. He lost his sight and leg from an IED. He was my brother in war; our bond is unbreakable. He loved to read, but can’t anymore. I sit by him after work and read to him so he can still enjoy his hobby. One thing about Joe, though, you will never hear him complain. He is such an inspiration to me. I wasn’t injured and I don’t even view his accident with the same positivity as him.” His eyes seemed cloudy like a river ready to overflow its banks. “If you don’t have anyone to visit, stop in by Joe Visanti. He will lift your spirits.”

Before Blythe had time to process what the cabby said, he pulled up to the sidewalk. He shouted out the window before he pulled away, “Tell Joe, Rafe will be by after work.” She waved and turned to find out she was at the Wounded Veteran’s Hospital. She approached the door with trepidation. She walked in and found all kinds of people with debilitating injuries.

“Can I help you?”

“Is Joe Visanti available?”

“Yes indeed! Follow me.”

She thought she had problems. Hers were nothing in comparison!

“Hey Joe, you have a pretty young lady here to visit you.” The room swooned heckling Joe. He soaked it all in and laughed. He had an infectious personality and a will to live.

“Hi Joe. I’m Blythe Miller. I met Rafe today on my way here. He said I should come and say hi. He said he will be by tonight after work.”

“Whoosh, that guy is amazing. He spends all his free time reading to me and just hanging out. I couldn’t ask for a better friend.” Joe said with such admiration.

“What brings you here today?”

“Well, this is sort of a crazy story.”

“Sit down, tell me about it. I bet it’s not as crazy as you think.”

Blythe sat down tentatively. However, there was something comforting about speaking to Joe. He couldn’t see all her insecurities, her apprehension of being surrounded by so much pain. She was almost overcome with emotion when he broke her silence.

“Well, are you going to keep me in suspense. How do I get to be so lucky to have you come and visit me today?”

“The funny thing is I didn’t know I was going to see you today. A little black book brought me here today.”

Joe’s chuckle filled the room, “You might be right. I have never heard that kind of story before!”

“I told you it was crazy. In this little black book, it said that my life was about to be forever changed. It just gave me this address. I had no idea where I was going, but then my cab driver, Rafe, knew you. You see, I have been broken by people I had trusted, and lost my job in the past day. I thought my life had lost its direction. Then I came here and met you and my world seemed so small before. I’m beginning to see that there is more to my life than my simple little problems.”

Joe was quiet for a long time as he seemed to be lost in thought. Blythe was hoping she hadn’t offended him in any way by what she said. Blythe started to tremble.

Joe spoke through a thickened throat, “Blythe, no matter who we are or what we experience, our problems are not trivial. But you know what I learned through this all?”

“No,” Blythe barely whispered.

“God gives us a chance every day to be thankful for our life no matter what. I could be bitter that I no longer can see and am missing a leg. But you know what? I am still alive. I have the best friend any one could ask for, and I know there is still more for me to do. God gives us challenges so we can appreciate the good times. Just think, if you had not lost your job and I would not have had my accident and Rafe wouldn’t have mentioned me, we would never have met. Life is not an accident Blythe. It all serves a greater purpose. Embrace the change and turn it into something great. That will be a blessing for me. Knowing that we helped each other.”

“How did I help you? I did nothing. I showed up here unannounced not knowing what I was coming here for in the first place.”

“With a huge smile on his face, “You became my friend today and I know you will leave here and share your joy with someone else who just might need a “pick me up” just like you did today. I know good things are on your horizon, Blythe. I just know it.”

Joe and Blythe talked and laughed like two old friends for the rest of the afternoon. Blythe’s soul was healing as each minute ticked by. She knew her recent circumstances were just a minor set back and it was a launching pad for something greater. Her stomach started to growl and she knew it was time to head home. When she walked outside, she was struck by the sunset. Never before in the city had she ever seen one this magnificent! She pulled her little black book out of her purse. It read…

Buy someone a coffee at 1975 Redemption Parkway.

“This is where I found the book!”

Nothing surprised her anymore--nothing happened by accident.

She finally arrived at the coffee shop and hustled in. All the tables were taken. A solitary man was sitting at a table in front of the window. He seemed to be waiting for someone. Blythe decided to see if he could use a coffee while he waited.

“Excuse me, Sir. Is this seat taken?”

“Nope. Be my guest.” the man said with a welcoming smile.

“I can’t believe how busy this place is. What brings you here tonight?” Blythe questioned.

“I like to come and sit and watch people walk by. Someday I know I will find the person I am waiting for.”

“Someone in particular you are waiting for?”

“You could say that except, I don’t know who it will be.”

Blythe thought that was weird, but nothing about the last 24 hours could really be explained. Blythe gushed on about all the crazy events of the last day. She shared with him how her life had changed forever just like the little black book had said it would.

The man’s face lit up when she told him about the little black book. Blythe couldn’t understand why that would be so intriguing to him but it sure grabbed his attention.

Blythe asked, “Sir, would you like a coffee?”

“That would be wonderful!”

Blythe bounced up from her chair and headed to the counter. She had a spring in her step she realized had been missing for a long time. When she turned around to return to the table, she realized her partner was gone. There was a note laying on the table. She approached and set down the coffees. Blythe sank in her chair and started reading the note.

You were the one I was waiting for! My mission has been fulfilled. Clearly, you accepted the challenge of finding a way to a better life. I was once in your shoes. My life came unraveled and a kind stranger helped me turn my life around. I have been blessed because of that. I wanted to pay it forward. This is my gift to you. Please accept this from me to you. Be a blessing Blythe; you are here tonight for a reason.

She couldn’t believe what she was reading. How her life had changed in such a short time. She slowly opened the folded, slightly wrinkled paper only to find it was a check written out to her in the amount of $20,000. The note floated to the ground as Blythe gasped for air.

A stranger from the next table saw her reaction and asked, “Ma’am are you alright?”

Blythe looked up with tears in her eyes and a smile radiated her face. “Thank you, Sir, I couldn’t be better.”

Blythe grabbed her purse, the check, the letter and bolted out the door. She knew just what she had to do. It was her turn to be someone’s angel.